Ascension, the largest private, tax-exempt, non-governmental health system in the United States, and Ramsay Health Care Limited, one of the top six private hospital operators in the world, are partnering in a new global supply chain joint venture. The new organization will combine the purchasing power of Ascension, the world's largest Catholic health system, and Sydney-based Ramsay Health Care, which operates more than 230 healthcare facilities in six countries on four continents. The venture will be owned equally by Ascension and Ramsay. Two Ascension subsidiaries – Ascension Holdings International and The Resource Group, Ascension's GPO and strategic sourcing subsidiary – will work with Ramsay's International Procurement Office to develop and operationalize the new global healthcare buying group.